Registration for HIMSS 2009 on Record Pace

February 4, 2009 — Early registration for the 2009 Annual Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Conference & Exhibition (HIMSS 2009) is running ahead of the 2008 trend, which ended with a record 29,174 attendees, according to HIMSS.

Total registration for the conference, which will be held in Chicago in April, stands at 5 percent over this same period of time last year, with non-exhibitor attendance showing an almost 3 percent increase.

A combination of employment growth in the healthcare sector and the likelihood of billions of dollars in new federal funding likely being pumped into U.S. hospitals and physician practices this year for health IT, as well as Chicago’s central location, seem to be driving strong attendance numbers for the event, said HIMSS.

Recent additions to the HIMSS 2009 educational program are sessions that will address the healthcare IT provisions in the proposed economic stimulus package. Current plans call for a $20 billion investment in the industry, primarily to encourage hospitals and physician offices to begin using electronic health records.

HIMSS also implemented new events, engaged new audiences and expanded educational options for this year’s conference.
Among them:

- Introducing weekend-only registration for the first time, allowing professionals to attend the conference during non-business hours

- Expanding education sessions and events to help clinician attendees understand the healthcare IT provisions included in the economic stimulus package